Past the Ages: Book Two Read Online Free

work to do. Ring for me when you’re ready to dress.”
    “Yes. Thank you.” She picked up her scone, but remembered something. “Harriet?”
    “Yes’m?”
    “Last night. What you saw between Will and I. You won’t say anything.” It was an order, not a question. She needed Harriet to understand how serious she was about the situation.
    Harriet went back to wringing her hands. “I wondered if’n you’d bring that up.” She took a step forward. “What about Mr. Rothchild? Your engagement? Don’t you love him?”
    “Oh, Harriet. Sit by me. Let’s talk.” She debated whether to tell her lady’s maid the whole, extraordinary truth. But as Harriet cautiously came over and hesitated to sit, Lucy decided against it.
    “Yes’m.”
    “I do love Mr. Rothchild. Without question. But it isn’t the kind of love that a man and a woman should have for each other when they marry.”
    “Mum says—”
    “I know. I could grow to love him in that way. It’s possible. But I met Will—Mr. Godwin and…” She thought about how to describe her deep feelings for him. “It was like drowning and coming back to life again when I first met him. He makes me feel alive and loved and completely…”
    “Off balance?” Harriet tried, her hands completely wrapped in her apron.
    “No. It’s as though the world and everything in it has all been in black and white and now it’s in explosive color.” She shook her head. “I guess off balance works too,” she said with a smile.
    “But Mr. Rothchild is such a good man.” Harriet wasn’t to be consoled.
    “He is.” Lucy took Harriet’s hand. “And I want him to find happiness, but that isn’t with me.”
    “But your parents? What will they say? It’ll cause a scandal if’n you don’t marry Mr. Rothchild.”
    “I know it’s a mess right now, but I’ll figure something out. I’ve got to. Can I count on you?” Her eyes bore into Harriet’s, pleading with her to be on her side.
    “Yes, Miss Lucy. Of course. Anything you need.”
    Lucy squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”

 
     
     
    THREE
    OFFICIALLY A FAMILY
     
     
     
    HARRIET HELPED Lucy dress in her favorite lavender gown. She pulled her hair up in a French twist, leaving wisps of soft curls to frame her face. A light smattering of rogue brightened her cheeks. “You look beautiful, Lucy.”
    “Thank you, Harriet.” She took the final sip of her chocolate and stood. “Is Mother up yet?”
    “Yes, she’s been up for an hour. You’ll find her in the drawing room responding to invitations.”
    Lucy steeled herself and went down the stairs and into the drawing room. Sure enough, her mother was leaning over a bunch of envelopes, writing hastily. Without glancing up, she said, “Lucy, dear. How did you sleep?”
    Lucy went over to her embroidery. “Very well. You?”
    “Fine. Fine.” She finished her correspondence and went about sanding the paper.
    “There’s a gentleman caller to see you and Miss Lucy, Madam. Would you like to receive them in here or the parlor,” Sheldon asked.
    “Good gracious. Who’s calling at this hour?” She frantically pushed past Sheldon as she pinched color into her cheeks and slicked back her slightly mussed hair. “Wait two minutes and then bring him in.”
    “Yes’m.” Sheldon moved out of the doorway and off to the side.
    “Lucy.”
    “Coming, Mother.” She had a feeling she knew who it was and worked to contain her excitement. It still astounded her how much her life had changed in the last month. She’d gone from feeling like a commodity to be bought and sold to a person loved by a man that she loved right back. If only she could tell someone. But who? Not her mother or sister. Maybe Harriet. How would she begin? Oh, by the by the ghost of my grandmother gave me a locket and I went forward in time two hundred years where I met William and we’ve fallen in love . Tee hee. She doubted anyone would believe her. Quite the contrary, Harriet would probably think